Well i have finally arrived back to the world of sunshine again. i got back to melbourne on saturday afternoon, after a long day - i had only had 3 hours sleep before getting up for the plane, then had to que for 45 minutes to check my lugguage in, the plane then got delayed for an hour, then had to que to what seem like hours to get through passport control and then to get through security check in melbourne before i could even comtemplate finding a bus to take me to my hostel.
When i last wrote i was still in new zealand, having just left Auckland, well there was no lie in for me as i then headed up to the bay of islands for a couple of days. Unfortunately i wasnt feeling very well so the coach journey was long and tedious, and the driver was also really boring, so i ended up sleeping most of the way. But when i got to Paihia it was all worth it, it was a gorgeous little bay, and the weather was good at last! My hostel was really nice, it had a pool and a spa and was only a stones throw away from the beach. I met up with some other people from my bus and we went out for dinner, now at this point i was really feeling like i was on hoilday, as we sat eating our dinner looking out on the bay. The next day we got up early again and headed out for cape reigna, the most northerly point in new zealand, and where the tasmin sea and pacific occeans meet, i got some amazing photos and luckily the sun came out for us. We then headed down to a little bay for lunch where there were dolphins swimming around in the bay. They were so close that some people were able to go out and swim with them, apparently the driver has been doing his job for 3 years and that was only the 2nd time he had seen them in the bay. it was amazing just watching the dolpins ride in the waves. We then headed for the sand dunes where some people climbed to the top of an 80m dune and came down on body boards, i chose not to do it as didnt think i would be able to get up the hill with my foot! To end the day the bus then drove on the ninety mile beach, occasionally hitting the waves, which was great fun. all in all it was a great day. The next day i headed back to auckland, i managed to get a lie tho as we didnt leave until lunch time, so managed to chill on the beach, just what i needed!

The last few days in auckalnd were spent with alysia and her family, thanks for that, i had a great time. It was so nice to just chill out, have lie ins and sleep in a double bed, it was bliss! We headed out to their beach house for a couple of days, which was nice but the weather wasnt brilliant - the beach house was about an hour out of auckland, and even had its own private beach. That evening we headed out to a nice restaurant andthen the local hot springs, which again was nice.
All in all i had a fantastic time in new zealand, and the saying from new zealand is "sweet as".
I am now back in melbourne and reality has hit now as i am trying to get a job,but luckily i have just found an apartment which i move into on the 18th dec. I think i have fallen on my feet there, i have got my own room with a double bed, the flat has a dish washer and a computer and the complex has a covered swimming pool, a gym and atennis court, and it is within the town centre, all for a cost of $30 more than i am paying my hostel for a 5 bedded dorm and a dodgy cooker!
i have spent the last coupleof days just trying to get a feel of melbourne, the other day i went around the city on the free tram, and yesterday went out to St Kilda to meet up with Martina, a friend i met in bundy. it was an absolutely gorgeous day, and the temp was 33 degrees yesterday. The weather is so random as today it is only around 23 degrees and then on sat it will be 37 degrees, oh my god how am i going to cope! I have just had another piece of good news as i have just had a phonecall confirming that i have a part time job for 2 days a week up until christmas, working as an OT, so thats great!
Anyway i had best go for now as been on this computer for way too long!
Bye for now
Sharon